Compositions and methods for skin conditioning

Abstract

Methods and cosmetic compositions for conditioning the skin, utilizing as active ingredients selected compounds structurally related to astragenols, cycloastragenols, and/or protopanaxatriols, are provided. Such compounds include those of formulas (I), (II) and (III) described herein.

I claim: 
     
       1. A method for conditioning the skin in a subject in need thereof, comprising:
 applying topically to the skin a formulation comprising a compound selected from the group consisting of cycloastragenol and astragaloside IV, 
 wherein the concentration of said compound in said formulation is from 0.1 to 5% (w/v); 
 
       and
 wherein said formulation comprises at least one ingredient selected from the group consisting of an emulsifier, a surfactant, a thickener, a skin emollient, a lubricant, a preservative, and an antioxidant. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the compound is cycloastragenol. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein said compound is astragaloside IV. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the formulation further comprises one or more additional ingredients selected from the group consisting of an emulsifier, a thickener, and a skin emollient. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the formulation comprises one or more ingredients selected from an emulsifier and a skin emollient. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the formulation comprises a skin emollient. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the biological activity of said compound is such that a composition containing the compound at a concentration of 1 ug/ml or less is effective to produce a telomerase activity at least 25% greater than observed in a vehicle control, as measured in a TRAP assay of keratinocyte or fibroblast cells. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the biological activity of said compound is such that a composition containing the compound at a concentration of 1 ug/ml or less is effective to produce an amount of cell reconfluence in a scratch assay of keratinocytes which is at least 25% greater than that seen in untreated or other control cells.